Closure fastener



Patented May 19, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE 2 Claims.

This invention appertains to closure fasteners, and more particularly toa novel device for holding the sliding sashes of a window in a closedposition or any preferred, adjusted open position.

I am aware of the fact that it has been proposed to provide concentricdiscs, cams, and the like for windo-w sash fasteners, but all of thesedevices (with which I am familiar) are open to serious objections. Somefail to positively hold the sashes against unauthorized movement; otherstend to seriously mar the rails of the sashes; and others are hard torelease after having finally caught the sash rails.

It is, therefore, one of the salient objects of my invention to providea sash fastener, which will be positively urged into tight lockingposition with the sashes, for forcing the sashes apart and into tightbinding contact with the sash stops, or guides, when unauthorizedattempt is made to open the window from the outside, and thuseffectively hold the sashes closed against such attempts, and which canbe quickly released by persons on the inside of the window, the devicebeing so constructed that the marring of the sashes is eliminated.

Another salient object of my invention is to provide a sash fastenerembodying rotatable friction rollers carried by a manipulating leverpivoted on a bracket secured to one sash, novel means being provided forpositively forcing the rollers into tight binding contact with the otherwindow sash and against rotation when forcible means is used to open thewindow.

A further object of my invention is the provision of pinions carried bythe friction rollers for meshing engagement with inclined rack bars onthe bracket, the pinions and rack bars function- Aing to urge therollers into locking position and against rotation when the sashes aremoved in one direction (to an open position) and to a released positionwhen the sashes are moved in an opposite direction.

A further object of my invention is to provide novel means forconstructing the bracket and for associating the bracket with thewindow, so as to prevent the operation of the lever and rollers by theinsertion of instruments between the meeting rails of the sashes.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a sash fastener ofthe above character, which will be durable and efiicient in use, onethat will be simple and easy to manufacture, and one which can be placedupon the market at a reasonable cost.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in thenovel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will behereinafter more specifically described, claimed and illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which drawing:-

Figure 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through a pair of windowsashes, showing my novel fastener incorporated therewith, the fastenerbeing shown in its operative position.

Figure 2 is a top plan View of the fastener re' moved from the window.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through the fastener, takensubstantially on the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse section through the fastener, takensubstantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 3, looking in the direction ofthe arrows.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a slightly modified form of fastener.

Figure 6 is a top plan View of the saine.

Figure '7 is a longitudinal section through the modified form offastener, taken on the line 'I-'I of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a transverse section through the modified form of fastener,taken on the line 8-8 i of Figure 7, looking in the direction of thearrows. Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,the

letter F generally indicates my improved fastener,;

and W a window with which the same can be associated.

The window W includes top and bottom sliding sashes I and II. Thesesashes are of any preferred construction, and the upper sash Illincludes side rails I2 and a bottom, or midrail, I3. The lower sash IIincludes side rails I4 and a top, or midrail, I5. As in'the ordinaryconstruction, the midrails I3 and I5 are adapted to abut when the sashesare in their completely closed positions.

My improved fastener F includes a bracket I for rockably supporting themanipulating lever 25, which in turn carries the pair of frictionrollers 26. Il having the upstanding, spaced, parallel side walls I8.These side walls I8 extend to the eX- treme front of the base plate I'Ito provide guards I9, for a purpose which will be later set forth.

In rear of the guards I9, the inner edges of the side walls I8 areprovided with rack bars 2D. These rack bars are at an angle to thevertical and extend upwardly and rearwardly. The purpose of these rackbars will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

Extending transversely across the bracket is a pivot pin 2|, and theterminals of the pivot pin are supported by the side walls I8 at a pointintermediate the ends thereof. The base plate I'I can be provided withopenings 22 for the reception of fastening elements (not shown) topermit the firm securing of the bracket to the top, or midrail, I5 ofthe lower sash II.

By referring to Figure 1 of the drawing, it will be noted that thebracket extends beyond the The bracket I6 includes a base plate L inneredge of the midrail I 5 for engagement with the upper surface of themidrail I3. The purpose of this will also be later described.

The manipulating lever 25 has its side edges provided with dependingpivot ears 21. These ears 21 are located intermediate the ends of thelever, and are provided with enlarged bearing openings 28 for looselyreceiving the pivot pin 2|. The inner end of the lever 25 is rolled toprovide a hinge barrel 29 for reception of the pintle 3U. This pintle 30has mounted thereon the friction rollers 26, and the rollers includemetallic hubs 3I and rubber or felt tires 32. Formed on the hubs 3| ofthe rollers 26 are pinions 32, which mesh with the rack bars 2B. Theouter end of the lever has formed thereon a manipulating handle 33.

The bracket is applied to the midrail I5 of the lower sash I I adjacentto one side thereof, so that the rollers 26 will be enabled tofrictionally engage the inner face of the side rails I2 of the uppersash I0.

In use of the fastener, considering that the sashes are in their closedposition (see Figure 1 of the drawing) and an attempt is made to openeither the top or bottom sash, the rollers will be swung downwardly andthe pinions 32, riding on the rack bars, will force the rollers intotight engagement with the rails I2. This will force the sashes apart andcause the same to bind against the stops, or guides. Obviously, the morepressure is exerted on the sashes, the further apart the sashes will beforced. Accidental rotation of the rollers is prevented, due to theengagement of the pinions with the rack bars. Thus, the sashes will bermly held in a closed position.

I lay particular stress on the pinions and rack bars, in that were therollers left for free rotation, opening movement of the sashes might behad when undue pressure is placed on the sashes, as the rollers wouldthen tend to rotate with the longitudinal movement of the sashes.

When the sashes are moved to a closed position, the rollers will tend tomove upwardly and away from the rails I2, thus allowing free closingmovement of the sashes. When the sashes are locked and it is desired torelease the same, it is merely necessary to raise the sashes, and thepinions 32 riding on the inclined rack bars 2D will force the rollersaway from the rails I2. Obviously, the sashes can be locked in apartially opened position, when such is desired. The handle 33 forms aconvenient means for raising the rollers when the sashes are beingopened from the inside of the window.

By having the base plate I'I extending over the midrail I3, persons areprevented from inserting implements between the midrails I3 and I5 andpushing up on the rollers. The side guards I9 also help to prevent theinsertion of instruments over the base plate I'I and into engagementwith the rollers. Thus, the sashes will be securely held againstunauthorized opening movement even though there should be play betweenthe meeting faces of the rails I3 and I5.

In Figures 5 to 8 inclusive, I have illustrated a slightly modified formof the fastener. This fastener operate-s exactly in the same manner asthe form previously described, and the difference between the two ismainly in the construction of the bracket.

The modified form of the device is generally indicated by the referencecharacter M, and the same includes the supporting and attaching bracket35 which can be stamped from sheet metal, if so desired. This bracket 35includes longitudinally extending, like side plates 35 connected by aninverted U-shaped bridge piece 31. The inner edges of the bridge piecehas formed thereon rack bars 38 which are arranged at an angle to thevertical.

Disposed between the side walls of the bridge piece 31 is themanipulating lever 39, and this lever is provided intermediate its endswith an enlarged opening for receiving the pivot pin 39 anchored to theconnecting piece.

The forward end of the lever carries a pintle, or shaft, 40 on which issecured the friction wheels 4I. These friction wheels 4I have securedthereto pinions 42 which mesh with the rack bars 38. The outer end ofthe lever 39 is provided with the manipulating finger-piece, or handle,43.

Formed on the outer side edges of the plates 35 are upstanding guardflanges 44, and the inner edges of the plates 36, at their forward ends,are provided with abutting guard lips 45.

As brought out above, the modified form of fastener M operates andfunctions in the same manner as the form first described. It is to benoted, however, that the lips 45 form means for preventing the insertionof an instrument up between the plates 36 to lift the rollers, and theguard flanges 44 also prevent the insertion of an instrument around thebase plates.

As shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 of the drawing, a housing, orguard, can be provided for the device, and, if preferred, the same canbe slipped over the base plate and held in place by frictional contactwith the base plate.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or thescope of this invention, but what I claim as new is:-

l. A sash fastener comprising, a bracket including a pair oflongitudinally extending attaching plates, an inverted U-shapedconnecting piece uniting the plates, rack bars formed on the inner edgesof the connecting piece disposed at an angle to the vertical, a leverloosely and rocki ably supported by the connecting piece, frictionrollers rotatably carried by the forward end of the lever, pinionsrotatable with the rollers meshing with the rack bars, upstanding guardflanges on the side edges of the plates, and inwardly directed abuttinglips formed on the inner edges of the plates at the forward endsthereof.

2. A sash fastener comprising a bracket including an attaching portionand a pair of upstanding, spaced, parallel side plates having inclinedrack bars formed on their forward edges, a cross-pin carried by saidside plates, a lever loosely and rockably mounted upon the pin, abearing on the lever, a shaft in the bearing, and a pair of rollersrotatably mounted on the shaft, each of said rollers including a hubhaving an integral pinion engaging a rack bar, and a cornpressible tireon the hub at one side of the pinion.

JOHN R. BURBRIDGE.

